What Is Dermatitis?
Dermatitis is a non-specific term used to describe inflammation of the skin. The cause may be intrinsic, extrinsic, or both.
I’ve Had Itchy Rashes Since Childhood, Asthma, And Seasonal Allergies. How Do I Make It Stop?!
Eczema, asthma, and allergies are the signs of what we call atopy. The eczema arising from this condition is known as atopic dermatitis. This is a genetic condition where there is a barrier impairment. Though there is no cure at this time, treatment is aimed at reducing flares and stressing maintenance. The itchy red rash can be calmed down with anti-inflammatory medications such as topical steroids or steroid sparing agents such as topical tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, or crisaborole. For times where the inflammation may be complicated by skin infections, decolonizing measures such as oral antibiotics, topical antibiotics, or bleach baths may be employed to help speed up resolution. Once the redness and roughness has improved, it is critical to use moisturizers to help maintain
I Always Seem To Have Redness On My Cheeks And Nose, Which Gets Worse Every Time I Drink Or Eat Spicy Foods. What Is Causing This And What Can I Do About It?
It sounds like you may have rosacea. The exact cause of rosacea is not known at this time, but may overlap with many other conditions. It is hypothesized that there may be a component of a hyperactive immune system, increase in blood vessel growth and blood flow, a skin barrier dysfunction, as well as nerve inflammation. There is also strong evidence that ultraviolet radiation and microbes (such as Demodex mites or Helicobacter) play a role in rosacea as well.
Rosacea is classically broken down into 4 main categories:
- Erythemato-telangiectatic – mostly overall redness with some small blood vessels
- Papulo-pustular – clinical overlap with acne, where there is background redness and some pimple-like bumps
- Phymatous – overgrowth of the sebaceous glands can lead to a bulbous nose and/or ears
- Ocular – scaling, irritation, and a gritty sensation in the eyes.
I’ve Been Having Flaking Around My Nose, Behind My Ears, Around My Forehead, And On The Scalp. I’ve Tried Many Dandruff Shampoos But It Doesn’t Seem To Do The Trick. What Else Can I Do?
This is classic for seborrheic dermatitis! Though flares have been attributed to various organisms, such as Malessezia furfur, it is an inflammatory condition of the skin and many treatments aim to minimize this inflammation. Topical steroids and fungal creams with anti-inflammatory properties are commonly utilized. Many shampoos work very well, though most people do not use it long enough! One of our favorites for this condition is a coal tar shampoo. We recommend leaving it on for at least 5-10 minutes prior to rinsing. Sing a couple songs and you’re ready to rinse!
How Do I Know If I Am Allergic To Something In My Environment?
Exposure to certain substances may cause forms of contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis can be from irritation of a substance, resulting direct inflammation closer in time to when you were first exposed to this substance, aka irritant contact dermatitis. An allergic contact dermatitis is usually due to a substance that you’ve been exposed to for a while, and your immune system builds an allergic reaction to the substance. Skin testing can be performed to see if there is something in your day-to-day that you are allergic to.
Well My Rash Doesn’t Seem To Fit Any Of This!
Sometimes additional detective work may be needed to pin down a diagnosis! There are thousands of possible reasons for rashes to occur. Your condition may indicate either another underlying cause, such as in cases of gluten sensitivity, or even an external cause, such as a drug reaction or sunlight!
